Investors conclude that Tesla is a carmaker, not a tech firm • Hacker News Board

Re: Investors conclude that Tesla is a carmaker, not a tech firm

#21

Post by gwbas1c » Thu, Jan 05, 2023, 3:13 PM UTC

msoad wrote: post #4

I have a Tesla and I also hold a short position on TSLA. My Tesla is a great car. The best car that I've ever driven but I'm not sure if it has anything that other car manufacturers can't replicate. I think Apple can make an even better car than Tesla if they build the hardware and software like their phones and computers. The idea that Autopilot has some magic sauce that nobody else can replicate is laughable.

> The idea that Autopilot has some magic sauce that nobody else can replicate is laughable.

Apparently GM's Supercruise is better, and cheaper.

I got enhanced autopilot in my first Tesla. Except for changing lanes, things like summon and autopark are just toys. The auto lane chance is so glitchy I decided I was better off saving seven grand on my second Tesla.

But if Enhanced Autopilot was 1-2 grand, I'd have bought it without regrets.

Re: Investors conclude that Tesla is a carmaker, not a tech firm

#22

Post by turbobooster » Thu, Jan 05, 2023, 3:13 PM UTC

hiddencost wrote: post #16

turbobooster wrote: post #6

What did Elon do to make Tesla earn so much money that the original founders couldnt do? Is it just about debt loans needed?

He's very good at pushing people to work overtime.

Is it like Steve Jobs and his workers took who the abuse because they were paid well? Or they had Stockholm syndrome?

Re: Investors conclude that Tesla is a carmaker, not a tech firm

#23

Post by miragecraft » Thu, Jan 05, 2023, 3:13 PM UTC

md_ wrote: post #14

This is true for so many "tech" darlings: Should Uber be priced like a tech company, or a cab company? Is Amazon a tech company or a retailer? Are ecommerce outlets like Warby Parker and Away tech companies, or just retailers with good CSS? It continues to amaze me how investors seem bamboozled by the appearance of "tech company-ness", by businesses which are obviously in markets that don't support the high price to…

Amazon has AWS, Prime services and robots.

They’re not like the other companies listed.

Re: Investors conclude that Tesla is a carmaker, not a tech firm

#24

Post by mempko » Thu, Jan 05, 2023, 3:13 PM UTC

Well that's not good, because the build quality of the car isn't that great... Seems other companies have caught up in the EV space.

Re: Investors conclude that Tesla is a carmaker, not a tech firm

#25

Post by multiplegeorges » Thu, Jan 05, 2023, 3:14 PM UTC

moonchrome wrote: post #12

msoad wrote: post #4

I have a Tesla and I also hold a short position on TSLA. My Tesla is a great car. The best car that I've ever driven but I'm not sure if it has anything that other car manufacturers can't replicate. I think Apple can make an even better car than Tesla if they build the hardware and software like their phones and computers. The idea that Autopilot has some magic sauce that nobody else can replicate is laughable.

> I think Apple can make an even better car than Tesla if they build the hardware and software like their phones and computers. I'm not sure outsourcing manufacturing and focusing on design works in auto industry - but could be wrong.

Fisker is trying it and should have a car to market next year. They've been hitting all their targets.

They outsource their manufacturing to Magna Steyr.

Re: Investors conclude that Tesla is a carmaker, not a tech firm

#26

Post by j16sdiz » Thu, Jan 05, 2023, 3:14 PM UTC

md_ wrote: post #14

This is true for so many "tech" darlings: Should Uber be priced like a tech company, or a cab company? Is Amazon a tech company or a retailer? Are ecommerce outlets like Warby Parker and Away tech companies, or just retailers with good CSS? It continues to amaze me how investors seem bamboozled by the appearance of "tech company-ness", by businesses which are obviously in markets that don't support the high price to…

Amazon's AWS definitely should be treated as tech.

Re: Investors conclude that Tesla is a carmaker, not a tech firm

#27

Post by jelliclesfarm » Thu, Jan 05, 2023, 3:14 PM UTC

Tesla owns so much data that it has collected(and will only continue to amass more in the future)from its customers that it is the very definition of a successful tech company. Economist is an embarrassment for journalism.

Re: Investors conclude that Tesla is a carmaker, not a tech firm

#28

Post by gwbas1c » Thu, Jan 05, 2023, 3:15 PM UTC

Tesla is a battery manufacturer that happens to make cars. Remember, they also make the Powerwall and grid-scale storage.

I think the bigger question we should ask ourselves is, "What is a tech company?"

Re: Investors conclude that Tesla is a carmaker, not a tech firm

#29

Post by checkyoursudo » Thu, Jan 05, 2023, 3:16 PM UTC

What happened in 2020 that made investors think Tesla was a tech company instead of a car company? Based on the graph in TFA, it seems like investors maybe used to price the valuation right. (Caveat: I have no idea if they did, but the valuation used to be in line with other car companies, I guess?)

Re: Investors conclude that Tesla is a carmaker, not a tech firm

#30

Post by dr_dshiv » Thu, Jan 05, 2023, 3:16 PM UTC

0xAFFFF wrote: post #9

crypot wrote: post #5

In 2021, Tesla pivoted to become the leading AI/Robotics company in the world. They had an investor day with a robot and everything.

Did they really pivot or is this just Elon Musk's usual smokes and mirrors bullshit to distract people from other issues?

I mean the idea that Elon Musk could extend Tesla into a robot company is laughable — and as laughable all the other things Elon Musk has actually accomplished.